Coating attachment for tile machine



June 30, 1964 F. A. GORY 3,133,343

COATING ATTACHMENT FOR TILE MACHINE Filed March 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK A. GORY June 30, 1964 'F. A. GORY 3,133,843

COATING ATTACHMENT FOR TILE MACHINE Filed March 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK A GORY United States Patent 3,138,843 COATING ATTACHMENT FOR TILE MACHINE Frank A. Gory, 865 NW. 198th St., Miami, Fla. Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,565 6 Claims. (Cl. 25--43) This invention relates in general to machines for manufacturing cement tiles and more particularly to an attachment for applying and smoothing coatings applied to tiles following their manufacture. Reference is had toapplicants US. Patent Number 2,948,043 which shows a typical tile manufacturing machine.

Cement tile, particularly the variety used for roofs, requires a coating of cementitious material for weatherproofing and for appearance. Prior devices for applying coatings to tiles failed to apply same at uniform thickness and desired smooth surface finish resulting in a relatively high percentage of tiles rejected for defective coating and other economic losses such as the application of coating material of greater thickness than necessary.

The present invention contemplates a sensitive mechanical means for uniformly distributing and applying a coating of cementitious viscous material of uniform minimum thickness on the surface of tiles with improved smooth finish as they are manufactured by the tile machine and is a principal object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a coating and smoothing device pivotally suspended over the path of movement of tiles in a tile machine for uniformly applying a layer of cementitious material of predetermined thickness by predetermined force on the upper surface of the tile with provision for the escape of foreign bodies in the material encountered by the smoothing device with a minimum deformation in the surface coating of the tile.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dual tandem coating means whereby slight imperfections in the surface of tiles coated by a first device are finally smoothed by a second device.

Another object of the invention is a dual coating and smoothing means whereby a plurality of variegated colored cementitious material for decorative purposes is automatically applied to predetermined different areas on the surface of the tiles.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are shown in the following specification and drawings in which: ,7

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the coating device applied to a typical tile manufacturing machine.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device, shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional end view taken through section line 33, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view taken through section line 44, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken through section line 5 5, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken through section line 66, FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a typical tile illustrating a variegated color coating on one side thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a frame 1 which is a fragmentary part of a tile manufacturing machine includes a conveyor means 2 movably positioned therein for transporting tiles 3 on independent pallets 4 in end to end formationin the direction shown by arrow in FIG. 1.

-A main hopper assembly consists of side members 5 and 6 secured in parallel spaced relation by transverse rods 7-7 and an adjustable baffle member 8 in close proximity with the outer edges of the tiles, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Each said member 5 and 6 is retained on frame 1 by central pivots 9 and 10 journalled in fixed bearings 11 and 12 secured to frame 1 providing the hopper with an open top and bottom and an open entry positioned over the path of travel of the tiles 3 and adapted for substantially balanced oscillation about the axis of pivots 9 and 10.

A pair of weights 13-13 are secured for adjustable longitudinal movement parallel the path of movement of said tiles on gibs 14-14 which are secured to side members 5 and 6 respectively, as shown in FIG. 1, are provided for adding additional inertia to the hopper and for the coarse adjustment of tilting same with a predetermined force. Auxiliary weights 15-15 are adjustably secured on gibs 14-14, respectively, for providing a fine adjustment of predetermined gravity force for urging the baffle end of the hopper to tilt toward the upper surface of the tiles. Although two weights are preferred, a single weight or spring means may be substituted for urging the hopper in one direction with a desired force.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the baflle 8 is adjustably secured between side members 5 and 6 by means of screws 16'16 which permit adjustment of same to a predetermined tilted position with respect to the hopper and the surface of the tiles for reasons to be hereinafter described.

A trowel blade 17, preferably made from wear-resistant metal alloy, is removably secured to the lower edge of the baffle by three screws 18 for the purpose of refinishing when worn. The lower surface of the blade has a transverse contour exactly mated to the transverse contour of the tiles as manufactured by the tile machine. The particular tiles illustrated have a step in one side thereof, however, the upper surface of the tiles may include a wide variety of transverse contours providing the trowel blade has a like contour.

The cementitious coating material 19, having relatively high viscosity, is deposited on the tiles at the entrance of the main hopper by conduit 20 connected to an adjustable dispenser means for retaining a supply of coating material, not shown.

In operation and under the assumption that the tiles are moving in the direction as shown by arrow, FIG. 1, and that the coating material 19 is dispensed upon the. upper surface of the tiles at a predetermined volumetric rate and that a surplus quantity of said coating material is provided in the hopper, then the coating material will spread and turbulate against the inside surface of batfie 8 and be distributed over the surface of the tiles with said material forced under the baffle 8 to be trowelled onto the surface of the tiles by blade 17, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The weights 1313 are pre-adjusted to tilt the main conveyor in a direction for urging the trowelling blade into close proximity with the upper surface of the tiles by overcoming the upward force applied to the hopper by the pressure. of the turbulating material against the baflie, and thereby applying a smooth, thin layer of coating material of substantially uniform predetermined thickness on the entire surface of each of the tiles.

It is to be noted that the angle of the baflie and trowelling blade 17 is adjustably positioned to .provide an optimum finish on the coating material depending upon the characteristic properties thereof.

It is to be further noted that the construction of the pivoted main hopper, as shown, will provide sufiicient inertia to prevent sudden movement or vibratory oscillations in the hopper which would result in corresponding undesirable undulations in the finish of of the applied coating material.

It is also to be noted that undesired hard bodies present in the applied coating material will not cause.

a permanent obstruction in the outlet of the main hopper since engagement withthe blade will result in the hopper tilting upward sufiiciently to permit the passage of the body without the necessity of stopping the machine.

A second auxiliary hopper means positioned adjacent the exit side of the main hopper means also straddles the path of movement of said tiles, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This hopper consists of a body member 21 having a pair of arms 2222 secured to a transverse shaft 23 pivotally secured at opposite ends thereof by pivots 2424 retained in bearing brackets 2525 which are secured on frame 1.

The member 21 has depending sides 26-26 for finish smoothing the outer edges of the tile 3 which have been prime-smoothed in the main hopper.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, an auxiliary hopper, like the main hopper, has a trowel blade 27 secured on the underside thereof, as shown, for applying a final finish to the trowelling previously applied by the main hopper. The trowel blade also contains projections 2% which form small linear grooves 28a in the surface of the coating, shown FIG. 7, for the dual purpose of trade identification of the manufacturer and for aiding the visual alignment of the tiles as applied during roof construction. The auxiliary hopper means has another important use in applying color striations to the surface of the tiles following the original color coating applied by the main hopper.

A second dispenser means is adapted to retain a supply of viscous coating material 29, different in color from that dispensed by the first dispenser means, for delivery by conduits 30 and 31, shown FIG. 1, which illustrate the application of two striations of color coating material blended onto the coating material applied by the main hopper means before the tile and the coating is dried or cured.

A relatively small quantity of material is maintained in member 21 for turbulation as the material passes under trowel blade 27. The color bands 29 on the surface of the tiles have a width dependent upon the volumetric rate of flow of the colored material on the tiles, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

It is now apparent that the controlled volumetric delivery from one or more delivery conduits from one or more different dispensers provides means for producing a wide variety of colors in various striations applied to the surface of cement tiles.

It is understood that certain modifications in the above, utilizing the features described, are intended 'to come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A tile coating device of the character described in combination with a machine for transporting tiles in a linear path end-to-end formation at predetermined velocity, said tile coating device comprising: a frame means; dispenser means dispensing viscous coating material at a predetermined volumetric rate on said tiles; hopper means suspended over said path adjacent thereto whereby said material is carried by said tiles into said hopper means; said hopper means including hinge means having a horizontal axis transverse to the movement of said tiles, a pair of side members which are substantially vertical and extend adjacently parallel to said tiles in the direction of their movement, and a bafile member located rearwardly with respect to said hinge means; said bafile member connecting said sides and spaced at predetermined distance above said tiles; said frame means supportably receiving said hinge means whereby said hopper means is rotatable about said hinge means; said baffle member biased with respect to said path with the lower part of said baffle member extending farther rearwardly than the upper part thereof; the center of gravity of said hopper located between said hinge means and said baflle member; said viscous material carried by said tiles against said baffle member and said sides with the force of said, material against said baflle member tending to rotate said hopper about said hinge means in a direction whereby said bailie member is raised relative to said tiles, the weight of said hopper means tending to rotate said hopper in an opposite direction about said hinge means, and the contact of said viscous material against said sides tending to resist movement of said hopper relative to said tiles; and a trowel blade secured to said baflle member which is mated to the transverse configuration of the upper surface of said tiles for smoothing a layer of said material on the surface of said tiles when the latter are moved thereunder.

2. A tile coating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein movable weights are connected to said hopper to adjust the downward force of said trowel blade on said material.

3. A tile coating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge means is substantially co-planar with said tiles.

4. A tile coating device of the character described in combination with a machine transporting tiles in a linear path in end-to-end formation at a predetermined velocity, said tile coating device comprising: a frame means; dispensing means dispensing viscous coating material at a predetermined volumetric rate on said tiles; hopper means suspended over said path adjacent thereto whereby said material is carried by said tiles into said hopper means; said hopper means including hinge means having a horizontal axis transverse to the movement of said tiles, a pair of side members which are substantially vertical and extend parallel to said tiles and adjacent to the sides thereof in the direction of their movement, and a bafile member located rearwardly with respect to said hinge means connecting said sides; said baffle member spaced a predetermined distance above said tiles said frame means supportably receiving said hinge means whereby said hopper means is rotatable about said hinge means; said viscous material being carried by said tiles against said baffle member and said sides with the force of said material against said bafile member tending to rotate said hopper means about said hinge means whereby said bafile member is raised relative to said tiles; an urging member connected with said hopper means exerting a substantially constant force adapted to rotate said hopper means about said hinge means whereby said bafiie member is urged into closer proximity with the surface of said tiles; said viscous material which is impeded by said bafile member contacting said sides and tending to resist thereby the movement of said hopper relative to said tiles; and a trowel blade secured to said baffle member mated to the transverse configuration of the upper surface of said tiles for smoothing a layer of said material on the surface of said tiles when the latter are moved thereunder.

5. A tile coating device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said urging member comprises a movable weight connected to said hopper.

6. A tile coating device of the character described in combination with a machine for transporting tiles in a linear path in end-to-end formation at a predetermined velocity, said tile coating device comprising frame means, dispensing means dispensing viscous coating material at a predetermined volumetric rate on said tiles, hopper means suspended over said path adjacent thereto whereby said material is carried by said tiles into said hopper means, said hopper means including hinge means having a horizontal axis transverse to the move ment of said tiles and a baflle member interconnected to said hinge means, said hinge means and said bafile member being substantially on the same level as said tiles with the latter spaced a short distance above said tiles and to the rearward with respect to said hinge means, said frame means supportably receiving said hinge 0 means whereby said hopper means is rotatable about said hinge means, said viscous material carried by said tiles against said baflie member, the force of said material against said batile member tending to rotate said hopper about said hinge means whereby said baflie member is raised relative to said tiles, an urging member connected with said hopper means exerting substantially constant force adapted to rotate said hopper about said hinge means, whereby said hopper member is urged into closer proximity with the surface of said tiles, and a trowel blade secured to the lower edge of said bafiie member mated to the transverse configuration of the upper surface of said tiles for smoothing a layer of said material on the surface of said tiles when the latter are moved thereunder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A TILE COATING DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED IN COMBINATION WITH A MACHINE FOR TRANSPORTING TILES IN A LINEAR PATH END-TO-END FORMATION AT PREDETERMINED VELOCITY, SAID TILE COATING DEVICE COMPRISING: A FRAME MEANS; DISPENSER MEANS DISPENSING VISCOUS COATING MATERIAL AT A PREDETERMINED VOLUMETRIC RATE ON SAID TILES; HOPPER MEANS SUSPENDED OVER SAID PATH ADJACENT THERETO WHEREBY SAID MATERIAL IS CARRIED BY SAID TILES INTO SAID HOPPER MEANS; SAID HOPPER MEANS INCLUDING HINGE MEANS HAVING A HORIZONTAL AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TILES, A PAIR OF SIDE MEMBERS WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AND EXTEND ADJACENTLY PARALLEL TO SAID TILES IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR MOVEMENT, AND A BAFFLE MEMBER LOCATED REARWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID HINGE MEANS; SAID BAFFLE MEMBER CONNECTING SAID SIDES AND SPACED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE ABOVE SAID TILES; SAID FRAME MEANS SUPPORTABLY RECEIVING SAID HINGE MEANS WHEREBY SAID HOPPER MEANS IS ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID HINGE MEANS; SAID BAFFLE MEMBER BIASED WITH RESPECT TO SAID PATH WITH THE LOWER PART OF SAID BAFFLE MEMBER EXTENDING FARTHER REARWARDLY THAN THE UPPER PART THEREOF; THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID HOPPER LOCATED BETWEEN SAID HINGE 